"Are you becoming a faster painter?" Topic

Has experience improved the speed at which you paint miniatures?

I think so.
I'm doing a lot more block painting, and some of the newer paints, (Army Speed Paint, and the Citadel Contrasts for example), seem to make my painting go quicker.
That and I also set queues and schedules for myself, (One month figures, one month terrain, scenics, non-people figures)…

Yes, because you can develop a style or method that works for you. Experience has also taught me that sometimes I don't need to worry about canteen straps and making sure that everything is 'just so.'

Speed paint is helping alot….

I am with 79th PA.

Does it look good from three or four feet?

If the guy I am playing is eating out of a bucket of fried chicken and picks up one of my figures,,, if I burst into tears,,, then I have spent far too much time and effort on it.

Does anyone else watch the videos of some guy painting one solitary figure for an hour only to laugh because you have a box piano covered in thousands?

Speed painting,,, yes. A company at a time in 28mm.

Yes. Eyesight degrades, painting speed increases.

No, probably the same. Maybe a bit faster.

Nope, Slower due to eyes and tremor.

Much faster now speed paints work wonders for speed.

No and yes. Early on, it decreased speed because I learnt to do highlights and whatnot. Later, I've deliberately sought out techniques to increase speed without sacrificing (too much of) the end result.

Yes

Speedpaint and Contrast paint has immensely impacted my painting speed.

I've gotten better at recognizing what kinds of projects I can finish quickly and what I can't.

I don't think I've actually gotten any faster at painting.

- Ix

Never been fast….attention span slows me more then anything else and that gets worse as I age. My actual painting isn't to slow but drifting off to some other project three or four times a night makes it rough.

Hard to tell.

Different things paint up at different speeds. And different LOD has an effect (RIF vs character figures). Whether I have a few minutes to spare or a big block of dedicated time affects which things I paint, and thus the speed. The degree of pre-painting decision making also has an effect.

Nope

Highlighting, contrasts, washes and weathering,,,

,,,I just let dust do all that,,,.

I think I've improved with experience--also better paints and brushes, and often better castings: there's been a lot of progress since 1969. Sometimes that means better looking. Sometimes that means faster. Depends.

I've been a fast painter since the mid-90's: simple block painting, brushing on The Dip Technique, then matte clear coat. I average 10 minutes, doing assembly line painting, per figure, including everything other than priming.

I recently began using Sharpie Acrylic Paint Pens, with the brush tips. They are amazingly fast, simple, and easy to use. They might shave a few minutes off my painting time, per figure.

I know I could get it down to three minutes per figure, using Army Painter Speed Paints, but that would be a drastic change in style and appearance, along with a hefty investment in paint. I only have a few hundred mini's left to paint, so it is not worth the investment. That, and I will NOT repaint my existing collection of 1,200+ figures already painted… Cheers!

Nope! Trying to get re-motivated to paint! It's a hard uphill battle!

i am faster but now I concentrate on happier. It no longer matters if I get them done now or later, I just enjoy the process. Plus , when they are done I will have to find something else to paint.

Yes, speed paints

yes

I got considerably faster when I started using an airbrush for the primary uniform color

I think I'm as fast as I want to be. That is faster than earlier in my life.

I've been painting miniatures for well over 50 years, so it works for me.

Not particularly fast, but I enjoy it more and I spend more time doing it. I'm retired so I can make the time in my day.

No.

Definitely YES. I do not spend much time on corrections anymore and I have more speed with the brush. I attribute this to a better sense of composition and procedure as much to better paints, brushes, and better control than I had when a young sprat.

Sure.

I am well practiced in each stage and its possible alternates so my process start to finish is pretty efficient, although I invariably get uninspired after completing the block painted stage and postpone the detailing/finishing stages until another session which can be days, weeks or months later.